Meet the Makers of Lyall Bay

Inside Seven Scents, the focus shifts from sight to smell. This small-batch fragrance studio - founded by Shannon, a former Black Fern, following a health scare - creates handcrafted essential oils, perfumes, and wax melts designed to bring calm and ritual to everyday life. Everything is made on-site, with an emphasis on natural ingredients, sustainability, and accessibility - a reminder that luxury doesn’t have to be distant or unattainable. There’s something quietly personal about it all, from refillable packaging to the sense that each scent has been tested, tweaked, and perfected right here in Lyall Bay.

A few doors down, The Polish Sausage Company adds a distinctly European flavour to the mix. Built around traditional smallgoods and time-honoured techniques, it’s a place where craft takes the form of carefully seasoned, expertly made sausages, under the stewardship of owner and cook Anna Janiec. Alongside tasty morsels, there’s a rich sense of heritage here: recipes and methods carried across continents, but grounded firmly in the local community, where regulars know exactly what they’re coming back for.

At this spot where they “don’t do boring”, making takes on a more experimental edge. Frankie McPhail’s small-batch distillery is all about bold, unexpected flavour combinations, producing gins, vodkas, and whisky that feel as much about storytelling as they are about taste. The tasting room - part lounge, part laboratory - invites you to sit with a drink and watch the surf, a fitting backdrop for spirits that are proudly local and a little unconventional. 

Striking, uniquely New Zealand art takes centre stage at this gallery, Jane’s working studio, where abstract oil paintings draw heavily on Aotearoa’s landscapes and florals. There’s a fluidity to the work that mirrors the coastline just outside - bold colours, loose forms, and a sense of movement throughout. A visually impressive yet homely sanctuary, stepping inside feels like entering Jane’s process mid-stream, where the line between finished work and work-in-progress is deliberately blurred.

Fashion finds its place at Lyall Bay through designer Tymone Winter’s Empire of Genius, where garments are treated as pieces of craft rather than fast-moving product. Set up by Tymone in 2014 as a handbag brand, the studio has a focus on sustainable couture and carefully selected materials - silks, leather-lace, finely worked fabrics - and each piece feels considered and tactile. It’s a slower, more personalised approach to clothing, one that aligns closely with the broader ethos of Lyall Bay’s maker community.

At Jane Fahy’s Real Aotearoa, the spotlight turns to a wider collective of around 80 New Zealand artists. Whether it’s jewellery, pounamu, or glasswork, each piece carries a sense of place, reflecting the materials and stories of Aotearoa. With a passion for connecting people to meaningful pieces, the gallery offers everything from small keepsakes to significant works, alongside a level of care and flexibility that keeps customers coming back.

Lyall Bay’s favourite watering hole, Parrotdog Brewery & Nice Takeaway - the brainchild of three Wellington lads named Matt - is where top-tier brewing meets raw Kiwi hospitality. Known for its easygoing, community-first vibe, the brewery pours a rotating lineup of beers just steps from the ocean, with a space designed for lingering. Locals and those from further beyond gather here for good beer, good food, and an authentic sampling of Wellington’s brewing and culinary prowess.

Wonderland Chocolate delivers a truly sweet kind of craftsmanship. Specialising in plant-based chocolate made from fine cacao, owner Kate Necklen’s approach blends indulgence with intention, creating treats that are as thoughtful as they are delicious. Handmade in Wellington and evoking the spirit of a long-lost local amusement park, each bar feels like a small act of creativity, proving that even the most familiar pleasures can be reimagined.

A burst of colour greets you at Pick a Posy, the evergreen florist’s that’s been around since 1952. Philippa Anderson - the third owner of the shop’s storied history - has mastered the art of fresh flowers arranged with a sense of playfulness that feel right at home by the sea. A go-to for thoughtfully crafted bouquets for any occasion, the space is filled with ever-changing seasonal blooms in soft pastels and vibrant tones. From loose, contemporary arrangements to classic styles, each posy is crafted with care - flowers that not only look beautiful, but last.